Three keen high school students from the LGA will face a mock sitting in NSW Parliament House this weekend as the Youth Parliament program comes to an end.

Daniel, Finlay and Alyssa joined like-minded people from across the State in the ten week program which gives young people the opportunity to engage with civic leadership, policy development and democratic parliamentary debate.

 The program has seen former Youth Parliamentarians go on to become Members of Parliament.

Finlay, who says the program is an amazing experience, is encouraging others to join the next round.

“I love my community and love the area of Kiama so us smaller town communities need to get out there, use our voice and show what we’re passionate about because this is the place to do it,” says Finlay, who is just 16 years old.

“It’s a fun program and, at the end of the day, it’s not real parliament so the stakes aren’t high, and you can get to learn how the system works. It's really great.” 

His committee – transport and infrastructure – has been looking at accessibility for disabled access into transport and infrastructure as well as mandatory inclusion zoning for social housing in new developments.

 “It is based on personal interest, and it is through that parliamentary and debate process that we have been able to refine our ideas, our bills and truly express the values of young people,” he says.

Alyssa, who is also 16 years old, speaks very highly of the program and says it was the perfect ‘taste tester’ for what life as a parliamentarian is like.

“I have always been a huge youth advocate and because I love this program so much, I definitely see myself running for a spot in parliament one day,” she says.

Her justice committee is debating a bill on protesting rights where she hopes the ideas of young people can make a change and change the ministers’ attitudes.

“It’s an amazing experience, especially to meet like-minded people from across the State who I would have never met and formed connections with.”

17-year-old Daniel also commented, “Kiama is a lovely area and an amazing community but in many ways it’s more insular than I realised, so bringing us out of our comfort zones and meeting all these truly different people is amazing.”

While he is looking forward to debating his bill – which looks at the effects of COVID on education, particularly the mental health effects and the digitalisation – he says it isn’t the core of the program.

“It’s the parliamentary education and getting kids into this amazing environment with this brilliant mood where there are interjections left right and centre, and fascinating debates.

 “It nurtures our ability to think for ourselves and hone our citizenships,” Daniel says.

With politics a passion of his, he is interested in the debate and parliamentary process.

“I have this love for democracy where I feel that as long as we are talking about issues and discussing issues, that we can move forward as a society.”

See here for more information on Youth Parliament.